Rly mishap: Cops yet to record statement

A day after two persons, including an SSC student, died after falling from a CST-bound slow train between Sion and Matunga stations, the Dadar government railway police (GRP) are still waiting for clarity on the incident as they are yet to record statement of the survivors.

The police said that of the three among the five persons who survived, two are still unconscious, and the third could not be located.

The officials stated that Zia Ansari, 26, an electrician and resident of Mumbra, and Uday Sharma, 31, a security guard and resident of Kalyan are still unconscious.

While Ansari sustained severe injuries to his head, Sharma bore waist and back injuries. Both are undergoing treatment at Sion Hospital. Satish Merawala, 16, an SSC student who was going to appear for his board exam along with Kedar Yadav, 25, a mason and resident of Sion, died in the accident.

The fifth injured person, KR Yadav, 26, escaped with a fracture to his right leg. The officials, however, are struggling to get exact details of the whole incident as they don't have complete residential address of Yadav. His mobile phone has been switched off following the incident.

Nitin Bobade, inspector of the Dadar GRP, said: "Till we record the statement of Ansari, Sharma and Yadav, it won't be clear if anything conspired inside the compartment, which led to the accident." Police said the only information available is that Yadav is a resident of Chunabhatti.

On Thursday, four of the five victims fell of the slow local train near Dharavi Dhobi Ghat because of suspected overcrowding.

Two severely injured off ventilatorThe condition of the two commuters severely injured after falling off a CST-bound local on Thursday has improved marginally. "Both patients are off ventilator now, but still in a critical condition. We will observe them for a few weeks and then decide on the next course of action," said Dr Suleman Merchant, dean of Sion Hospital.

Uday Sharma, 31, and Zia Rasul Ansari, 26, were brought to the hospital with severe injuries on Thursday. They will be kept under observation for the next 48 hours.

When asked about the compensation for the victims, a senior railway official requesting anonymity said, "They will have to approach the Claims Tribunal to seek compensation. Railways have not announced any compensation as such."